What an Experience

Saturday, July 5th was the last day in Mexico.  We finished our trip by taking time to walk around downtown Merida to do some shopping and get some sweet ice cream treats.  It was a good opportunity for the kids to spend their pesos and for adults to brush up on their negotiation skills!  A few of us were feeling a bit under the weather and stayed back to rest and recuperate for the long flight home.  

We got to the airport around noon and checked in for a 3pm departure from Merida.  We connected in Dallas-Fort Worth before flying home to Atlanta.  We landed around 12:30am on Sunday morning and jumped on the bus to head back.  You could tell folks were exhausted and struggling to keep up their energy but I was really impressed how everyone got along well, helped each other out, and continued to have fun playing games on the plane and in the airports during layovers.  It was a long day with our family getting in bed around 3am but we sure were happy to be home!  

As we reflect on the last week there are a few special things that stand out to us.  I’m really proud of how our group worked together and got along so well.  There was laughter and singing all week and it was fun to see people finding joy in moments of hard work and tired bodies.  I’m grateful how everyone loved and supported our kids throughout the trip, including them in the work and the games and making sure they felt like they belonged.  Our kids made friends with new people from Tekax that made the trip special and made goodbye hard.  But they also grew in their friendships with the young men and women in the youth group that they brought home and can hold onto for years to come.  

This is our second time traveling to Mexico and working with Gabby.  And this is the second time that Gabby had to figure out how to buy more supplies because we surpassed what was planned and expected from our group.  There were some of the same people from last time and many new faces that went on a mission trip for the first time, but everyone worked hard.  We poured a lot of cement, painted a huge sanctuary, and hosted a great VBS camp with bible stories and craft projects that were a hit with everyone.  I think this group should be very proud of they way they served and work for the glory of God for the people in Tekax, Mexico.  None of us will probably return to this church but we pray that our efforts will help the people show God’s love for them for many, many years to come.

The people we met at Prince of Peace church in Tekax were special.  I was so grateful to hear the story of their church and be a part of the rebuilding process that started over 9 years ago.  Their faith and trust in God stood out as they preached and sang and worshiped with us over the course of the week.  It was truly special to worship with them in their new building Thursday before we left.  So many of us made friendships over the course of the week and there were many tears shared by Americans and Mexicans as we said our goodbyes.  God’s kingdom knows no bounds and it is truly wonderful to see people from such different places and backgrounds come together with the love of Jesus.  

We are grateful for all the people that supported us on this trip.  Many people were supported financially by friends and family and by the giving of our church family.  This made the trip affordable and allowed many the opportunity to go.  There were letters of encouragement for everyone to read along the way.  Our family was touched by the heartfelt letters people wrote to encourage us and share their love with us.  And we were supported in prayer along the way as we battled travel mercies, fatigue, sickness, and many other obstacles.  Thank you to everyone who supported the team.  I know our family got so much out of it and we look forward to returning in two years to see where the Lord takes us next.  

The Painters

Rest

If you wonder what it's like to spend July 4th in another country, wonder no more because it was a beautiful day in Mexico.

We were able to "sleep in" and had a wonderful breakfast. The night before was Philip Weinrich birthday and his other two children, Lauren and Paul, flew to Merida to surprise him for his birthday; therefore, they joined us on our adventures.

We loaded all 43 people into vans and extra cars to drive 1 & 1/2 hours to Santa Barbara where we were able to swim in three different cenotes, each as beautiful as the next. If you are unsure of what a cenotes is, it is a natural body of water with in a cave reaching hundreds of feet in depth. Some of them are completely inclosed, some have tree routes pouring down from above, some have birds flying over head along with small fish I tried to catch with no avail and some of them were completely opened on top with small caves and small waterfalls. Regardless of how big the cave and waterfall were, I will be telling people I've been in a cave and swam under a waterfall. Some of us simply floated taking the beauty in around us, others explored, some us tried climbing on the side of the cenotes getting the whistles blown and others tried to attack my feet from beneath me startling me! I shall not name names, but they know who they are.

After a week of hard work, it was nice to have a day to relax and take in the natural  beauty of God's creation. According to scientific testing, research and investigating that has been done over the years it has been determined the cenotes were formed when mentors hit the Yucatan. Cenotes do not exist anywhere else into he world, as we know. If you ever have the chance to visit on, do!

I have been very blessed to serve the people of God and with this team. We have sweated, we have had injuries and  had some unexpected sickness, but through all of this Christ as done a mighty work in us where  the people of Tekax will a building with 4 walls, floor and roof proving protection from the sun where the entire body can worship together. This is a project they have been working on for 9 years and I am grateful to have been a part of it.

A great multitude, from every nation, before the Lamb

On Monday the work began; on Thursday we bade farewell to Tekax, our part in their mission completed. In between, lay many hours of grueling, back-breaking work: the hardest work that I, at least, had ever done in my life, and I know many others would agree with me. Our work during those hours can be summed up succinctly - pouring concrete for the church floor and pastors parking and painting the interior walls - and yet, at the same time, no words can adequately describe the hard work and persistence that lay behind the finished product.

When we first arrived each morning, we gathered across the way to hear the tentative plan for the day, then crossed the street to the church. There was something beautiful about it, unfinished as it was, and it wasn't just the shade it provided from the sun. The building was one large room, light and airy, and the enormous, arched windows made it almost part of the outside. And from the lofty roof echoed the sounds of work.

First was the rattling roar of the cement mixer from outside, and all the accompanying noises: shovels scooping sand and gravel into buckets, heavy bags of cement mix being lifted and set down, and finally, the clattering, clamor as buckets were poured in. Now the buckets of cement were being filled. Invariably, the cry of "buckets" preceded their appearance at the side entrance, passed hand to hand. Then each bucket was poured into place. The empty buckets were then passed back long another line to be washed and used once more.

Once the concrete was finished, which took longer than many of us would have liked, there was painting to be done, with long rollers and tall ladders and precarious perches fifteen feet off the floor. Cards had to be written and VBS supplies prepared and the rest benches and chairs cleaned.

At the end of Thursday work day, we were simply exhausted. Everyone was hurting. Everyone was tired. Most of us had blisters or soars or torn up arms and knees. Concrete was in our wounds and paint clung to our hair.

And yet...

On that final day, when we had been pushed beyond our limits, and exhausted beyond measure, the people of the church we had helped came to give us one final goodbye. I was tired. I was hot. I was, frankly grumpy. And yet when we had gathered in a circle, standing on the floor we had so painstakingly poured, surrounded and shaded by the walls we had painted - then it all, the blisters, sores, exhaustion, heat - it all took second place.

These were the people we had worked for. This was what we had slaved for in the hot sun: brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, gathered together in his name to praise God. I stood between two girls I had gotten to know, Karen and Karime, and joined hands in the circle. I barely spoke Spanish; there English was not much better. And yet - and yet we were friends. We had exchanged gifts, cards, addresses. Even though we had only known each other for a few days, even though we hardly spoke each other's languages, we were united by something stronger, something greater than this world. We were sisters in Christ.

As we stood there in that circle, prayed, exchanged thanks, I was overwhelmed by what God had done. And then when we joined hands and sang a hymn to our Lord, two different languages, cultures, peoples, united in praise of our God - then I understood the wonder of Revelation 7:9:

"... and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes, and peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

Gweny Musgrove

Family

Family is the theme for today's post. We talk about family a lot as believers, and we were able to see several manifestations yesterday. We saw parents and children working side by side to help further the kingdom.We saw our church family working as a team to get the projects finished. After we were done laying the floor and painting the sanctuary, we held a worship service with the members of our new Mexican family. Then I got a special surprise when Sarah took me and Gaby and Norma and another couple to an Argentinian steakhouse for my birthday. Shortly after we sat down, another couple came up behind me and gave me big hugs: Lauren and Paul, my other two kids, flew down to surprise me for my birthday! I was stunned into silence (yes, there is video evidence of this). They had been planning it for months and I never suspected a thing. My smile is only now beginning to fade.
   I hope you get to see the wonderful gift of family that our Heavenly Father gives to us in many ways every day!

Philip Weinrich

Perspectives on Tuesday

This morning we had an early start packing up for the worksite, took us a little bit longer to roll out of bed this morning because of our back pains on Monday. Fortunately for us, this is our last day of everyone working concrete at the church. We were able to finish the floor to the church and were able to start cleaning out the driveway. The work was very difficult, but it was very rewarding. Micah and I were in the front of the concrete line scooping concrete into buckets. We definitely messed up our backs, but it is beyond worth it to see a finished product.

After work we had the opportunity to go take a siesta. Gabi took us to get some much needed pan dulce and manzanitas( bread and apple soda). Then we traveled back to the church in order to do VBS. During VBS we talked about Moses and the ways in which God used him. It was so cool to be able to talk to all the young people. During VBS we both enjoyed getting to run around with the kids and talk and craft along side the people of Tekax.

During our work today someone from the local government passed by and was moved by what we were doing. So tonight they sent a little train to pick us up from the church and tour us around the city. It was so fun to get to see the city, and to get to listen to some fun songs at the same time.

It was definitely a long day today, but we were thankful for the opportunity to do God’s work and we are so appreciative of all your prayer and support this week. At night we reflected with our team about encouragement and how to encourage each other. Most importantly we discovered how Jesus’ death on the cross had encouraged us continue working and act as Jesus would act.

James Mustard

Perspectives on Monday.

On Monday we woke up early and had breakfast. We then went straight to work. We were laying the church's concrete floor. We took a fruit break halfway through. We had lunch later and then had our siesta. We went back to the church for VBS. We ate dinner and then went on tour of the town on a party train.

Favorite part:
My favorite part on Monday was the train ride.

Hardest part:
The hardest part on Monday was hauling concrete for hours.

Zeke Fish

Today we began our work for the week. We spent the morning laying concrete for the floor of the church that has been under construction for several years now. There was a much appreciated "fruit break" as well as lunch. Both of which were prepared for us by members of the church. Afterwards, we had a bit of a rest at our hotel before going out for VBS. At VBS we discussed the first part of the story of Moses and God's Ultimate Plan. After the story, we sang songs in Spanish and had crafts and dinner. And I slept very well that night.

Favorite part:
I really enjoyed crafts with the kids. It was a great universal way to connect.

Hardest part:
The physical labor has been difficult, particularly with several minor injuries among the group.

Ezra Fish

Bienvenidos a la Iglesia

One thing that struck us about Mexico was the hospitality of the people here. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by a group of people from the church we are serving here.

On our first day, the local church threw us a wonderful picnic where we played games, swam in the pool, and ate a delicious home-cooked meal. Later that night, we attended a service at the church, Prince of Peace, we are partnering with. We were welcomed with smiles and wonderful songs, including some in Mayan and English, which just shows how much time they spent preparing for our arrival.

The second day, we woke up early to start pouring a cement floor in the church we are helping to build. The church here has been working on building this church for nine years, and we are so grateful to hopefully help them finish.

We had the privilege of working beside some of the locals while making the floor of the church. Some of the ladies from the church also worked incredibly hard to provide us with snacks and lunch while at the job site, along with putting out new water jugs for us so we could stay hydrated.

Overall, the people here in Mexico are quite hospitable and we are very thankful for all that they have done for us so far this week and for the opportunity to serve alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ here in Mexico.

Sincerely,
Sadie and Noah Hessenthaler

"Welcome Beloved Brothers!"

Our day together began at 4am, gathering at the church, loading into a bus and being sent off with a prayer from Boyce Hunt. Two bus rides and two plane flights later we arrived in Tekax, Mexico, a city south of Merida. 

Pulling off the road and into the hotel drive we were greeted by a crowd carrying signs. One sign read, “Welcome Beloved Brothers”. These were some of the members of Prince of Peace church who gathered to welcome us. Neither Julia or I have been on this trip before but it was exciting to see the enthusiasm of past team members as they saw familiar faces and gave big embraces.  We had a chance to practice our spanish and smiles as we left the bus and mingled the welcome party. Speeches were made on both sides to welcome us, to accept the kind welcome and to offer thanks in prayer for a safe day of travel. It is encouraging to meet other brothers and sisters in Christ and have our first bond of unity be Him.

After a late dinner of Mexican pasta (which was fantastic), we settled down to rest and get ready for the Lords day tomorrow. It was a long day and the team was tired but there was unity, patience and calm leadership as we went through the day. We look forward to getting to know the church members and each other better as we serve together in the coming days.  We’re grateful to be here and thank you for your continued prayers.

On behalf of the team,

Jeremy and Julia Anthony.

Team Arrives!

The Faith Mexico Mission team arrived successfully in Mexico after a long, but fairly smooth, travel day. It was great to see Gaby, Norma and Sarah, and meet fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We are excited about what God has brought together here and what this week will mean in the lives of this community and our team.

Faith Summer Mission Trip to Merida, Mexico (June 28th - July 5th)

Thank you to those that have already supported the team of 40 members going to serve in Merida, Mexico this summer! If you would like to support the team through a direct financial donation, you may use this Link for online giving or send a check with "Faith Summer Missions" in the memo line. The team also appreciates prayers for the preparation-time leading up to the trip and for the trip itself.